U.S. Marine Corps

I was assigned to the 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) from 1999-2004. Here are some photos from my exploits as a Marine. I got out as a Corporal (E-4) and traveled some.

In 2002 I was very fortunate to be able to participate in “Operation Weedeater 2002”. For OPSEC I will not go too into detail about our mission, but the title of the operation should say it all.

I was deployed to Doha, Quatar, for approximately thirty to forty days, in 2003 in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom. We never made it to Iraq on that deployment but many Marines from 4th ANGLICO did afterwards, and continue to kick ass and take names, worldwide.

Every year I try to make it to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball celebration in Miami, Florida with my fellow Leathernecks. Some of the greatest days of my life.

Paris Island, MCRD (February 2000)

Twenty-nine Palms, California (April-May 2000)

Operation Alexander the Great (2001)

Unit AT training with Greek Marines. We made a few stops on this exercise. We went to the Azores (Islands), Portugal; Catania and Sigonella, Sicily, Italy; Rota, Spain; and finally Greece. In Greece we only did trained in the field and didn’t get to see nothing too special. We did get to ride the LCAC to the USS Kearsarge, where we spent a few days as the guests to the 22nd MEU.

“Operation Weedeater 2002”. This was a great joint-task force operation. One in a lifetime experience. I got to meet Shaggy, whom I took a picture with, and Elephant Man, who I didn’t get a picture with but saw in the hotel elevator smoking an enormous joint; which was ironic considering the mission we were on there. We did SPIE rigging training, and once in the field, and stayed in a great hotel. Great mission!

In 2003 I deployed to Doha, Quatar. We were awaiting orders for Iraq when the war in Iraq kicked off. We were supposed to be a part of the invading force but fate had us watch the invasion on CNN at the DFAC in Camp Snoopy. The last few days there, we got to go to a resort and spa; amazing place with a swim up bar. Later on I would make it to Iraq with the Air Force Reserve in 2010, but in 2003 it was written for us that way.

Some pictures from 2004; The Unit Annual Training (AT), The Marine Corps Ball and my fire team leader’s wedding.

I was then in U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 2004-2008. I had a relatively uneventful run there, as far as travel goes, and took very few pictures. I mostly just worked there, and was introduced to the world of federal law enforcement. Here are some of those pictures:

Semper Fi!